Former MLB pitcher finds liver donor in high-school classmate he hadn’t seen in 20 years

A man's Facebook plea for a liver donor attracted the attention of a high-school acquaintance he hadn't spoken to in 20 years.
In April 2024, after experiencing appetite loss and losing 15 pounds in a month, Steven Register, 42, was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer, according to news agency SWNS.
Doctors told the former MLB pitcher — who played for the Colorado Rockies in 2008 and the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009 — that a liver transplant was likely his best chance of survival.
MAN WITH STAGE 4 CANCER RAISES $150K FOR EXPERIMENTAL TREATMENT
«When we first met with the doctors, they gave me a year to a year-and-a-half to live,» Register said, adding that he and his wife, Beth, immediately started researching options.
The couple traveled from Auburn, Alabama, to the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, where Register underwent surgery for a temporary ostomy bag and began chemotherapy, per the SWNS report.
Plans for the liver resection were canceled when doctors disc..

Psychedelics as potential mental health treatment are explored by Trump administration

The Trump administration has expressed interest in exploring psychedelics for their potential in treating PTSD and other debilitating mental health issues, various officials have shared.
«The Department shares the goal of ensuring that all Americans — especially our nation’s veterans — have access to safe and effective treatments for conditions such as PTSD, addiction and depression,» a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), run by Sec. Robert J. Kennedy Jr., said in a statement provided to Fox News Digital.
«Secretary Kennedy is committed to applying rigorous, evidence-based science to research efforts aimed at addressing these serious health challenges.»
FDA APPROVES FIRST AI TOOL TO PREDICT BREAST CANCER RISK
In recent years, researchers have been actively investigating the potential of psychedelics, such as MDMA and psilocybin («magic mushrooms») to treat mental health disorders.
MDMA is not approved for clinical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Admi..

As Fluoride Bans Spread, Who Will Be Hit the Hardest?

Cavities and dental costs are at risk of skyrocketing as a growing number of states consider banning the use of fluoride in public water—and children from low-income households are likely most vulnerable.

In March, Utah became the first state to prohibit adding fluoride to drinking water. A couple months later, Florida followed suit. Several other states are now considering similar bills.

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In a recent study published in JAMA Health Forum, researchersprojected what would happen if the entire country were to stop adding fluoride to the water supply. The potential impact on both people’s oral health and their dental bills was substantial: Tooth decay, the study found, would increase by about 7.5%—representing about 25 million more cavities—and the U.S. would face about $9.8 billion in additional costs over five years, including both what families would have to pay out-of-pocket for dental care and what the government would need to pay for public health ..

Common menopause medication might prevent breast cancer while treating hot flashes

A drug intended to treat menopause symptoms could double as breast cancer prevention.
New research from Northwestern University in Illinois found that Duavee, a Pfizer-made drug, «significantly reduced» breast tissue cell growth, which is a major indicator of cancer progression.
A phase 2 clinical trial included 141 post-menopausal women who had been diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), also known as stage 0 breast cancer, according to a press release from Northwestern.
PROSTATE CANCER DRUG NOW AVAILABLE TO MORE PATIENTS WITH AGGRESSIVE FORM OF DISEASE
This non-invasive breast cancer affects more than 60,000 American women each year, often leading to an outcome of invasive breast cancer.
The women were separated into two groups — one received Duavee and the other took a placebo for a month before undergoing breast surgery.
Duavee is a conjugated estrogen/bazedoxifene (CE/BZA) drug, which combines estrogen with another medication that minimizes the potential harmful side effe..

Local Efforts Are Essential For Tackling Growing Health Threat from Extreme Heat

Tornadoes can tear down a home and hurricanes can flood entire towns. But when it comes to weather dangers, extreme heat is the great deceiver. It isn’t acute; it’s literally a matter of degrees. A 100-degree day looks pretty much like one that’s 85. The skies don’t darken in warning and the danger isn’t instantaneous, like a gunshot. It’s slow-moving and cumulative, like a poison.

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Defending against extreme heat is a growing problem, as I learned when researching the frontiers of weather forecasting and how to protect people from nature’s hazards. In some cases, climate change is driving extreme events in regions where people have little experience with or preparation for the health and other effects of high heat. We saw this with the 2021 heat wave that left hundreds dead across the Pacific Northwest.

As it turns out, the science of meteorology has gotten quite good at forecasting high temperatures—but society has far to go when it comes to using th..

Woman dies of brain-eating amoeba after using tap water in nasal rinse device

A woman in Texas has died after contracting a fatal brain amoeba from contaminated water.
The patient, 71, had used a nasal irrigation device filled with unboiled tap water from an RV’s water faucet, according to an alert from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The «previously healthy» woman was staying at a local campground at the time, the agency stated.
DANGEROUS FUNGUS COULD SPREAD TO PARTS OF US, RESEARCHERS CLAIM
Within four days of using the nasal rinse, the woman developed «severe neurologic symptoms,» including fever, headache and altered mental status.
The patient was treated for a potential infection of primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare, deadly brain infection caused by Naegleria fowleri, also known as the brain-eating amoeba.
Despite treatment, the woman began having seizures and died eight days after symptoms began.
Testing of the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid confirmed she had contracted N. fowleri, according to the CDC.
«This case ..

Ozempic users report surprising cravings for certain smells: Here’s what to know

While Ozempic and other weight-loss drugs have been shown to have myriad benefits, they can also present some unwelcome effects, primarily nausea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms.
Some are also reporting changes in their sense of smell — sometimes referred to as «Ozempic smell» — as one of the lesser-known side effects of GLP-1 medications.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that people taking these drugs could be suddenly drawn to sugary perfumes and scents, possibly even craving them.
IS OZEMPIC RUINING YOUR TEETH? WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT IMPACT ON DENTAL HEALTH
Some users on Reddit have reported unexpected cravings and appreciations for perfumes.
«I started semaglutide in April last year and have lost 80lbs and gained a newfound appreciation for fragrances,» wrote one user.
Another user replied, «My scent obsession started when I started my shots…»
GLP-1 receptor agonists work by imitating the natural hormone GLP-1, which helps to regulate blood sugar and maintains a feeling of ful..

Should You Take a Fiber Supplement? 

Getting enough fiber is crucial for optimal health, yet more than 90% of Americans don’t. Federal dietary guidelines recommend 25–34 grams of fiber per day for adults, depending on age and gender—but the average American adult eats only about 8 grams a day, “which is far below recommended intake regardless of age or sex,” says Dr. Michelle Hughes, medical chief of quality and safety for digestive health at Yale New Haven Health and Smilow Cancer Hospital.

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Should people seek to fill that gap with fiber supplements? Here’s what experts say you should know about supplementing this essential nutrient.

What is fiber, anyway?

Fiber is a type of carbohydrate that your body can’t digest. It’s found in plant foods, and “instead of being broken down and absorbed like other carbs, fiber moves through the digestive system, adding bulk to stool, feeding beneficial gut bacteria, and slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream,” says Bree Phillips, a re..

Are Pesticides in Your Food Harmful?

Various chemicals, from those in plastics to food additives, have made headlines lately for their potential roles in triggering diseases. Pesticides are unique among chemicals, though, says Melissa Perry, an environmental epidemiologist and dean of George Mason’s College of Public Health. “They’re deliberately manufactured to kill things.”

By poisoning weeds, pesticides clear the way for farmers’ crops to thrive. But their deadly design may undermine human health, too. A recent report by a new federal advisory board, the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) Commission chaired by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., calls for further investigation of pesticides’ effects to determine if their use should be limited.

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Some evidence does suggest that long-term exposure could lead to cancer and several other serious health problems. More research is needed to better understand these risks, but in the meantime, experts recommend simple, practical steps to re..

Can you hold a plank longer than others your age? Fox hosts test their core strength

How long can you hold a plank — and how does it stack up to others in your age group?
That’s the question that was posed on «Fox & Friends» Thursday morning, when co-hosts Brian Kilmeade and Lawrence Jones competed in a plank challenge.
A plank is an isometric move where the person holds a push-up position for a set period of time.
ARMY UNVEILS NEW FITNESS TEST WITH TOUGHER STANDARDS — COULD YOU PASS IT?
Both held a low plank for well over a minute, exceeding the thresholds for their ages, although Kilmeade held his for a few seconds longer.
A fitness expert at Lifetime in New York City provided the below targets for how long you should be able to hold a plank by age.
Planks are often touted as an abdominal exercise, serving as an alternative to traditional sit-ups and crunches, which can strain the back and neck.
However, the isometric move benefits the body in many other ways beyond just sculpting a six-pack.
In addition to working the abdominals, planks also strengthen the muscles i..